Press Release, 9th May 2007

Britain Must have a referendum on the new EU Treaty, says new Eurosceptic campaign group

A new paper from Ruth Lea, Director of Global Vision, published today looks at how, despite significant setbacks, European integration marches on with little or no regard for the electorates of Europe.  The resurrection of a new Treaty out of the ashes of the failed EU Constitution are case in point. 

The new Treaty currently being developed is not simply a 'mini' or 'amending' treaty.  The EU's elites, and in particular Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, intend to take forth some of the most important elements of the defunct European Constitution. 

Ruth Lea argues that, "even if the new treaty were to be only a 'mini-treaty', the changes under the treaty would alter the relationship between the EU and member states and are, therefore, strictly constitutional. It is disingenuous and/or dishonest to suggest otherwise. Clearly the changes would not be as extensive as they would have been under the original Constitution, but changes they are."

"Mr Blair should keep his promise to allow the British people a referendum on whatever new draft treaty is eventually agreed."

The author also points out, "There is little doubt that the EU has proceeded with much of the integrationist agenda proposed in the Constitution under the current legal framework, albeit imaginatively interpreted. Given the disparate ambitions of the EU's member states, the next 18 months should be very interesting indeed. There will surely be much disagreement about the new treaty. Surely it is time for a new vision of Europe. A vision where European nations can decide what their relationship with the EU should be. A vision of a 'European Commonwealth'."